Here is what I have use to kill
mites.
1: Sevin Dust 5%.
I clean the cage and everything in it with bleach water, and then I dry it out.
I put my Boas in a Rubbermaid tub and sprinkle a lite dusting of Sevin dust 5% (NOT THE 10%!) on them. I let it set overnight, then I give my Boas a warm bath to clean them off then I put them back in there cage. I also put a light dusting of Sevin dust 5% in the cage and leave it in for about 1 or 2 weeks. Then I clean the cage one more time with bleach water to get all the Sevin dust and DEAD
MITES out. During this two week period I also change the water daily. This way the reptiles will have fresh, clean water to drink every day. I know some people say Sevin dust is not safe for your Boas, but I have had nothing but good luck with this. I have had boas since 1979, and have not had any bad experiences from this. Sevin dust even says you can use there product on your dogs and cats for fleas and tics. My veterinarian is the one who recommended Sevin dust to me. You can buy Sevin dust at any home and garden store. Lowe's and Home Depot also sell it.
2: Bedding Spray 0.50% Permetherin.
Go to any pharmacy or Wal-Mart and buy some "Bedding Spray" it is used for Lice treatment and has 0.5% permethrin in it. Wal-Marts brand is Equate other stores just ask for bedding spray. RID is another brand name. The 0.5% permethrin is what will kill the
mites. It should cost less than $3 to $4 per spray can at Wal-Mart.
One thing I like to do is it's always fun when buying lice spray at Wal-Mart is to lean towards the cashier and scratch your head. lol
The Equate Bedding Spray is the same stuff as Provent - A -
Mite but only a whole lot cheaper. Don't under any circumstance spray this stuff directly on the boa. The fumes will cause severe neurological disorder and usually very painful death. Remove the water bowl and the boa and fog the cage with it without soaking the bedding. Just fog it up and close the cage up tight for an hour or two. After an hour or so you should be able to put the boa back in. I would wait a day or two before putting the water bowl back though mostly because I want the boa crawling around in the treated substrate and not soaking in the water bowl nursing it's bits from the
mites. If you have a really humid cage where the glass or sides of the cage is wet, then you will need to dry the cage out before treating it. Especially if you have one of those little boa's that likes to lick up water droplets from the side of the cage. The Bedding Spray should kill any
mite for up to 3 or 4 weeks. Make sure you give fresh water for your boa to drink every day when using this product.
The spray has 0.50% Permetherin in it and this is what kills the
mites.DO NOT!!!! use the bedding spray with turtles, amphibians, insects, tarantulas or any arachnids as it will kill them.
Take care
Tom
Ack! Mite!
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